“The passenger train which connects Ouagadougou to Abidjan is finally back in service! After a four-year interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of borders, a first train made the journey to Bobo Dioulasso, offering a moment of relief and hope for the populations of both countries.
For Oussina Soulama, a retired driver recalled for the occasion, this resumption was long-awaited: “We hoped that things would resume. It’s a good thing for everyone, both for the Ivorians and for the Burkinabè. The roads have always been my life, they mean a lot to me.”
In the small market near the station, it is also a relief. Asseta Gansoré, who runs a fruit and vegetable business with her mother, is delighted with this long-awaited recovery: “It will do us good, because since the train stopped, there are no more customers. Nobody comes here, we no longer sell anything. Before, there were a lot of people and it made good money.”
But this recovery is still limited to the Burkinabè borders. The train will not cross the Ivorian border and will stop at Bobo Dioulasso. According to the Burkinabè Minister of Transport, Roland Somda, the Ivorian side is not ready for recovery under current conditions due to the railway infrastructure. A situation which questions the Burkinabè authorities who wish to understand the real reasons and find solutions to lift this blockage.
Despite this limitation, the resumption of passenger trains is strongly supported by the population. Compared to the bus, the train is more convenient for commerce and is considered safer than the road. The authorities assure that the necessary measures have been taken to guarantee the safety of passengers.
This timid resumption of the passenger train between Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso is a hope for the populations of the two countries who are impatiently waiting to be able to travel again between the two capitals. We hope that the technical obstacles will be quickly overcome to allow a full and regular resumption of the service.”